Breaking News
Germany's TKMS Secures Largest-Ever Heavyweight Torpedo Order for Type 212CD Submarine Program.
On 19 December 2025, Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems and Germany’s procurement authority BAAINBw signed a framework agreement in Koblenz covering DM2A5 heavyweight torpedoes for the German Norwegian Type 212CD submarine program. The deal ties Europe’s next-generation conventional submarine directly to a long-term weapons pipeline, reinforcing undersea deterrence and allied interoperability.
On 19 December 2025, as announced by Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, TKMS and Germany’s procurement authority BAAINBw signed in Koblenz a framework agreement to deliver DM2A5 heavyweight torpedoes and associated equipment for the German Norwegian Type 212CD submarine class. This is being presented by the company as the largest torpedo order in its history, a milestone that links a new weapons tranche directly to Europe’s next generation conventional submarine program. With the contract value and total volume deliberately withheld, the announcement nonetheless signals a long-duration investment in undersea lethality and interoperability at a time when European navies are prioritizing credible underwater deterrence.
Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems has secured its largest-ever heavyweight torpedo framework agreement, linking DM2A5 weapons directly to the German Norwegian Type 212CD submarine program and reinforcing Europe’s long-term undersea deterrence (Picture Source: TKMS)
The agreement covers development, production, and delivery, indicating that DM2A5 is not treated as a static “off the shelf” munition but as a system expected to evolve through the program’s build and in-service phases. TKMS underlined the industrial importance of the deal for its ATLAS ELEKTRONIK segment, with company leadership framing the order as a strategic win that will enhance the operational envelope of the 212CD boats and, by extension, the security posture of Germany and partner nations operating alongside it.
From a technical standpoint, TKMS describes DM2A5 as designed around a “software defined” approach intended to speed adaptation to emerging threats and countermeasures. The torpedo is presented as combining modular, battery-based electric propulsion for high speed and extended range with a low acoustic signature, while its digital sonar suite is intended to support engagements in complex environments, including multi-target situations where classification and prioritization become decisive. A fiber-optic link to the launch platform is highlighted as a key enabler for high data-rate guidance, navigation updates, and precise control during the run, reinforcing the concept of the torpedo as a networked effector rather than a purely autonomous “fire and forget” weapon.
The DM2A5 decision sits inside the broader German-Norwegian 212CD acquisition trajectory, where fleet size and timelines matter almost as much as the weapon itself. Germany’s decision in December 2024 to exercise options for four additional boats lifted its planned 212CD total from two to six submarines, while Norway has moved to add two more boats to reach six, bringing the combined program to its planned ceiling of 12 submarines. By tying the torpedo framework to the class, the two navies reduce integration risk, create commonality in training and logistics, and set conditions for iterative software and tactics updates that can be shared across a combined user community as the tactical picture changes.
Strategically, the announcement reinforces an approach to European undersea power that relies on joint procurement, shared industrial pathways, and scalable programs attractive to additional partners. TKMS explicitly points to a potential next phase involving up to 12 submarines for Canada, and Ottawa has already stated its intention to acquire up to 12 new submarines while advancing procurement engagements with two qualified suppliers, with delivery targets aimed at the mid-2030s to avoid a capability gap. In that context, a record torpedo framework agreement does more than arm the 212CD fleet: it helps lock in a weapons baseline for a multinational submarine ecosystem, strengthens supply chains for a high-end underwater munition, and signals to allies and competitors that Europe is investing in credible, modern undersea strike options that can scale beyond a bilateral program.
By anchoring DM2A5 within the 212CD ecosystem through a framework that spans development, production, and delivery, TKMS and BAAINBw are consolidating the strike component of the expanding German-Norwegian submarine partnership. Software-driven adaptability, fiber-optic guidance, and low-signature electric propulsion position the weapon for the demands of contested undersea operations, where control, discrimination, and responsiveness can be as decisive as raw range or speed. Coupled with the 212CD program’s growing scale, the agreement carries broader European significance by strengthening common standards, sustainment pathways, and industrial continuity, while also creating a clearer foundation for potential future multinational participation.